A new post...finally!

I have to say, I hate bumping that beautiful bouquet down from the top post. It was just so fun! Quickutz thought so too. They picked it up for publication on their website! Today's post is a bit of fun as well. I played along with the Hero Arts blog challenge this week. If you haven't played along before, check it out. There are some really talented ladies, and the prizes are great! Little different color combo here, but I think it works nicely. I love using gray as a neutral instead of black or brown. Somehow it changes the whole feel. I should also note that the owl stamp is a single owl on a branch. I colored the owl with a marker, leaving out the leaves, then stamped. I repeated the process 4 times. I only inked the leaves on the 1st and last owl. I'll post the recipe below the picture. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts CL 155 (owl stamp)
Stampin' Up! That's Funny (sentiment)

Paper: Stampin' Up! Going Gray, Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White

Ink: Stampin' Up! Basic Gray Marker and Ballet Blue Marker

Markers: Copic Markers and Blender Pen

Accessories: Sizzix Stampin' Up! backrounds #1 texturz plate
Stampin Up! Apricot buttons

Paper Birthday Flowers

Paper flowers and bouquets are all the rage right now in paper crafting. I have been dying to make one, but finding the time is another story. Just a few days ago, Quickutz (the maker of my Silhouette SD) released a rose pattern cutting file. No excuses now. Time to make one of my own. Additionally, a wonderful lady I know is having a birthday tomorrow. Wouldn't you love to receive one of these bouquets on your birthday? So I get to have a little fun, and she gets this pretty bouquet as a birthday surprise.
You can find a great 2 part tutorial here and here. Much of my inspiration came from Natasja Verbeek's tutorial, but I change a bit to make it my own. The paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Dutch Girl line. The Happy Birthday stamp and striped ribbon is from Stampin' Up!

School Fun

Last Saturday I was gone most of the day. When I came home Saturday afternoon, this was waiting for me:

What's even better is that it was all free! That's right, 12 Imaginisce Teacher's Pet papers, 2 Snag 'em Stamps (also Imaginisce), and 2 sets of rhinestone brads from American Crafts (not pictured here)! One of my favorite blogs, Paper Crafts Connection had a give away, and I was one of the winners. First off, if you haven't checked out this blog, you really should. This is Paper Craft Magazine's blog, so if you love the magazine, you'll love the blog. It's like a behind the scene tour of what's going on. Second, if you haven't seen these new papers from Imaginisce in person, you need to. The pictures just don't do it justice. There is a shiny texture to things like the glue bottles, scissors, and apples on this paper. Very cool. And the colors are just yummy! Yesterday I finally had a chance to sit down with them and create a little. Here's what I came up with:

I did this card for Splitcoast Stamper's Sketch Challenge this week, SC242. The School Notes stamp was inked in Baja Blue (SU!), and stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock (SU!). Then, I just stamped "wonderful" right on top in Ruby Red (SU!).

Here's one more card made with Imaginisce's lovely papers:

The "Just a Note" was hand written with a Ruby Red (SU!) marker. The top of the notebook paper was punched using the spiral punch from SU! as well. I'm fairly new to using Copic markers, but I love, love, love them. There is no limit to the possibilities with these markers. I had so much fun coloring in this little book worm with my Copics that I thought I'd leave you today wit a close up of this adorable little guy.

A New Stamp + A New Technique = Lots of Fun

I made this card last week, and hadn't had a chance to post it yet. This was a new technique called recessed window introduced last week over at Splitcoast Stampers. You can find great step-by-step directions here. This was also the perfect opportunity to use a new stamp from Stampin' Up! Chic Boutique. I've been dying to use this lovely dress form since I received my SU! order from the UPS man a few weeks ago. This technique is super easy, and makes a really lovely window to frame your image. I also got the chance to use some of my favorite paper from My Mind's Eye. Hope you enjoy my Boutique Window.



Supplies:
Stamps: Chic Boutique - Stamping’ Up!
Card Stock: Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow, and Watercolor Paper - Stamping’ Up!
Patterned Paper: Laundry Line - My Mind’s Eye
Accessories: So Saffron Button - Stamping Up!
Riding hood Red Taffeta Ribbon - Stamping’ Up!
Corduroy Button - Stamping! Up!
Label Die - Sizzix
Ink: Basic Brown - Stampin’ Up!
Markers: Real Red, Ruby Red, Sage Shadow, and So Saffron - Stampin’ Up!

A Little Inspiration

I think I see the world through a crafter's eyes. I was at a MOPS retreat this past Saturday, and they had decorated the whole place in black, white, and a touch of deep pink. I looked at it and though, wow, I really need to make some cards with that color combo. I've even been carrying around a tote bag in these colors for a month now. Today I have 3 cards. I'll post a picture of the item that inspired me, then the card, and then a little info on the card. All materials, stamps, ink, etc. are from Stampin' Up! today, unless otherwise noted.

The first card was inspired by this paper clip:


I used my Silhouette SD machine to cut out the damask image. I used Rose Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White card stock. I used my curly label punch to punch the background for my stamp. I then covered the paper in Shimmerz paint, which gives it (as the name implies) a shimmery finish. An added bonus is that this stuff dries super fast. Less than a minute and it was ready for me to stamp my greeting from the Warm Words set in Basic Black right on top.

The second is a Birthday card inspired by this folder:


It's a bit hard to tell, but the folder is actually black and cream, so on this card I used Very Vanilla, Basic Black, and Rose Red. I used a stamp from the Circle Circus set to stamp the circles in the background, and a stamp from Sincere Salutations for the Birthday greeting. I embossed the black paper with Stampin' Up! Finial Press Sizzix Embossing Folder, and then sponged Very Vanilla craft ink over the top of it. It really makes the embossing pop. The label that "Birthday Wishes" is stamped on was cut using my Silhouette SD. I stamped the greeting in Basic Black and sponged on a bit of Basic Black ink as well. The card is finished off with a Rose Red button, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, and some Rose Red brads.

The final card is inspired by this beautiful bag my cousin made for me and all of her bridesmaids as a thank you gift. It's quickly become my favorite bag and is a source of inspiration now too!


I used a number of stamp sets to get just the look I wanted for this card. I stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White with a stamp from Thoughts and Prayers. I stamped in Whisper White on Basic Black with stamps from Always and A Beautiful Thing stamp sets. Finally, I stamped the greeting with a stamp from All Holidays. I again used shimmerz paint to paint the card stock that the "thank you" greeting is stamped on. In person, the "thank you" isn't hard to read, but it photographed a bit cloudy due to the shimmer. The ribbon is Double Stitched Rose Red grosgrain.
Thanks for sticking with me today, I know this post was a little extra long. I hope you find some color inspiration around you this week too!

Creative Block

Have you ever picked up a new craft supply that you just loved and had to have, but when you got it home you couldn't decide how to use it? That's what happened to me with Sparkly Fluff (if you're not familiar with this, it's flock with glitter in it). I saw it before it was released and knew I had to have it. My kind (and business savy) local scrapbook store owner called me when her shipment was in and I ran out to buy it. Not just in 1 color, mind you, but 5 different colors, because I knew my need for this stuff was that great! I got home ready to create with this great stuff and.... nothing. Every time I started to create something that I thought I was going to use the Sparkly Fluff on, it would turn out that it wouldn't work. I left the containers out on my desk so I wouldn't forget to use them as soon as the opportunity arrived.... still nothing. Finally, defeated by the fluff, I gave in and put them away in a drawer. Then, yesterday, I pulled out a new stamp I wanted to use. I was looking at the stamp, trying to decide how I was going to start, and it came to me: this darling little bird would look even better covered in Sparkly Fluff!

At last, I got to use it! It's just as wonderful as I had hoped. It's soft, it's sparkly, it adds texture. In the end I was able to make a card I really like. Hopefully my creative block is over, and I will find many more projects to add this great stuff too again!

Supplies:
Stamp: Wings of Friendship - Stampin’ Up!

Markers: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal - Stampin’ Up!

Paper: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal - Stampin’ Up!

Accessories: Beads and Pin from Pretties Kit - Stampin’ Up!
Dew Drop - Robins Nest
Apricot Appeal Ribbon - Stampin’ Up!
Scallop Edge Punch - Stampin’ Up!
Circle Scissors Plus - EK Success
Scallop Circle Die - Sizzix

More Opposites

I again have 2 opposite projects. I've gotten in some new stamps and accessories recently, so I've been having a lot of fun just playing around. One is a card made with all stamps. No patterned papers here. The other is made with all patterned papers.
First the all stamped card:

Everything on this card is Stampin' Up! from the paper to the pearls, with only 1 exception: the tulle. The tulle that is layered over the "merci merci merci" came from an old dress. Instead of throwing it away, I stashed it away for use on cards. The stamps are from the set Chic Boutique. I just love this little bird cage. I expect you will probably see me use it again soon. The colors here are Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip. Additional accessories include the corner rounder punch, the scallop edge punch, half pearls, and some SU! markers.

Now here's a card with no stamping at all:


This is not only a card, but a gift too. I attached a small magnet to the little button down in the right had corner (technically called "flair" from American Crafts) and attached it to the card with temporary adhesive. The magnet is actually attached to the inside of the card, then I punched a hole through the top layer of the card. This way the magnet is visible when the card is opened or closed. The paper is all from American Crafts Backyard paper line. "Count Your Blessings" was cut using my Silhouette SD. The butterfly was cut using the Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies Die made by Sizzix. The butterfly's body was made using Candy Dots from Pebbles Inc. Finally, I finished the card off with a bit of hand stitching around the magnet and the sentiment.
Thanks for taking a peak at my opposite creations!

Boy Page/ Girl Page

I have 2 boys, so when the subject of my scrapping is my family, I need to make masculine pages. American Crafts' Travel line works wonderfully for this. This page was designed using only 3 embellishments (do you see the 3 eyelets?). The rest of this page was done by cutting and layering paper. "Jaxon & Papa" was cut out using my Silhouette SD. The butt crack is courtesy of my oldest son Jaxon, and the shoulders were provided by my Dad.

Onto the girlie page:

I do love scrapping special events for other people, especially when they can be girlie. This is a Make-a-Wish page I made. Again, most of the papers, thickers, and flair are from American Crafts. There is a little bit of stitching. Like the boy page, I added some additional interest by layering paper. I also added some rhinestones from Kaiser Kraft for sparkle. I just can't help adding a little sparkle to girlie pages!

Travel Fun

Today I have a fun, fast, inexpensive, and super cute project: Luggage Tags. Our MOPS theme for the year is Planet Motherhood and we're doing a world travel take on this theme. We're having our steering (leadership group) meeting tomorrow, and I offered to make these adorable luggage tags for each mom on our steering.


On the left is a standard luggage tag (this one's mine) with a single initial. "T" for my last name, Taylor. The middle tag is for someone with a split last name. "VM" for Ver Mulm. This format would also work with someone who has a hyphenated last name, or if you want to do first and last initials. The tag farthest to the right is the back side of the tag. This is where identifying info/contact info can be written. I attached the white paper with temporary adhesive so the paper could be removed and replaced if the information changes. The patterned paper is from DCWV's Sweet Stack. Look below for a close up. Can you see that it sparkles? The card stock is from Stampin' Up! (in Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, and Rose Red). The brads, felt flower, and ribbon are also SU!. I cut the celery frames and monogram letters with my Silhouette SD. Finally, I slipped all of this into a clear name badge holder that I found at Wal-mart. You can buy a 12 pack for under $2. This is a great project to use up left over scraps of paper and embellishments. Remember, these aren't just for luggage. They can be put on diaper bags, duffel bags, and tote bags too!